An Updated Life

Hello everybody!

Well, a big hello to all my current and former SATEC people - Though in truth, I doubt that there are any of my World Issues or Philosophy people reading the blog anymore, being waaayyy too busy with university to consider poor Mr. Kassam :P.

I'm teaching at a school in the west end called Emery Collegiate, it's about as different from SATEC as chalk and cheese. I do miss the halls at SATEC, and I've discovered something - I came back to SATEC a little while ago, before I started here, and I could almost navigate the place blindfolded, it was a little like slipping into a warm bath. Familiar things may be something you sometimes wish to leave, but coming back is a pleasure you rarely get to experience. That being said, it's nice here - The students aren't anywhere near like SATEC (And really, there aren't many schools like SATEC in the TDSB, are there? I mean, you guys used to come visit me during class so I wouldn't get bored! AWESOME!), but that's a good thing; change is sometimes necessary.

I am slowly, painfully, beginning to get organized - Apparently, Bip and I have both learned the important distinction between ORGANIZING stuff that needs to get done, and actually DOING it. It's a subtle, but importance difference, kinda like bringing equipment to a house on fire versus actually USING it.

To all my university people who are still reading this blog (I know you're in lecture while reading this - WAKE UP, PRY THE TIMMIES OUT OF YOUR HAND AND LISTEN TO THE PROF!), leave a message and let me know how life is! Especially if you're at my favourite university! And, if you're reading this in the midst of business class (Because I know you are), or you're in the library, take care not to annoy the librarian, would you?

Also, leave me a message and say hello!

Mr. K

A brief note

I hate getting organized.

I'm trying terribly hard to get everything in neat boxes, with file tabs attached, colour coded, and sorted alphabetically.

Alas, I cannot. So I have one thing to say to all those of you who are super-organized:

Damn you. i don't know how it's done, and nobody wants to pull me aside and give me tips except for "Oh, everyone organizes themselves differently! Find what works for you!"

You know what works for me? ACTUALLY GETTING SOME HELP ON GETTING ORGANIZED! :P

For those of you in university, my problems started then. People in high school and in university, don't make the same mistake, go to the study centre and get some tips on staying organized through the year.

Buy a dry-erase calendar and put down important dates. FOR GOD'S SAKE, KEEP ALL YOUR ASSIGNMENTS AND NOTES IN A FILE FOLDER ACCORDING TO COURSE. It will *really* help.

School is starting!

Okay, so who's excited for school?

University people?

What about everybody going into Grade 12? That's gotta be a little weird!

What are your courses going to be like? Looking forward to them? What's going to be the toughest one?

I don't want to get started on work, so I thought I'd ask a few questions.

oh, and: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? How would you get there? How long would you stay, and what would you do?

Mr. K

Just one more note on university life

A student's comment on one of the blogs (see below) inspired me to come up with a list of things I wish I had known in my first year:

- The number of people walking excruciatingly slowly in the hallways is directly proportional to how late for class you are.

- The bookstore is always sold out of the book you need. No wait, they have one. It's buried at the back behind six anatomy textbo... Oh, they sold that one a few minutes ago! Sorry!

- There's always one ass during exams who loudly proclaims at every opportunity that he didn't study and was out partying last night until 2 a.m. and ends up getting a 90. I hate those people. Feel free to put laxatives in their coffee :P

- www.tusbe.com

- Credit card companies will come to your campus to offer you credit cards. Most often they do so by tempting you with baubles and trinkets, everything from a coffee thermos to a single-strap backpack. I have realized that this isn't an incentive: They are trying to exploit your stupidity about credit cards as cheaply as possible. In essence, the 'free gift' is their way of showing you just how stupid you are. Also, most credit cards you get at university are issued by the university itself, meaning the interest you pay will eventually go back to your university. The one that you pay tuition to. And buy books from.

- I hate "ancillary fees". I'm looking at you, U of T.

- Study spaces are neither.

- Remember the cafeteria food you guys had in high school? How it had that unpleasant chemically taste? It was all greasy, and you look back, wondering how you could've ever eaten that crap on a regular basis?

Welcome to university food, sucker!

That being said, I'm seeing all the freshies slowly trickle in to U of T Scarborough, and it's making me giggle just a little. Just a tad. It's funny to see so many of you. Good luck.

And to those who are heading into grades 10-12 this year, take right now as a break. If you were in summer school, it's over now. Take some time to play some Wii/XBox/PS3. Go out for a bike ride, do some yard work. Believe me, six months from now you'll be cussing and wondering where it all went!

Yesterday I had a Dr. Pepper and Snickers for the first time in months. SO good. I think, honestly, there is nothing better on a summer Sunday than sitting down in the backyard, sunglasses on and a book nearby, with a bottle of Dr. Pepper and a Snickers bar handy.

Yes, I'm a nerd. I enjoy it. Leave me alone.

Have a good one!

Mr. K

Ho-leeeeeeee Crap!

First...

Michael Jackson passed away. R.I.P.

Second,

School's done! Your marks are/were up on the boards, but you should be getting them in the mail sooner or later! Good luck in university my 12s! :)

Study hard in grade 11, my wonderful 10 history class!

Stop screwing around, 9 Geo! It gets harder in Grade 10! (No, it really doesn't, but we have to say that when we're teachers, otherwise you won't study)

HINTS FOR THE WORLD ISSUES EXAM. CLICK ON ME

1) Study.

Ideally, you'll want to study chapters 2 - end of course

2) Globalization

3) Well, this is where you post topics and themes you have questions about. If you've got questions or concerns about the World Issues exam, leave them in the comments and I will do my darndest to answer them before the exam on Monday at 9.

Good luck!

Exams in Bunches!

Hello everybody!

Today was the first set of exams, and so far everyone's doing well (I haven't gotten too much marking done, so you'll have to wait a bit :P).

Have a good summer, everybody! And those of you who are doing uni timetables and need help, leave a message on the blog!

Of late assignments, interesting doohickeys, and sunny days

Here's something interesting to watch if you've got some time.

A number of you haven't handed in your philosophy assignments. Lates are deducted at 5% per day, including weekends. Get it done for Monday, as some of you are presenting and have yet to hand anything in, and as you know, you can't present if you haven't handed anything in.

For those of you who have handed in your ISUs, your presentations start Monday. 20 minutes per presentation including audience participation, handouts must be included. Those of you going first will have some leniency, as long as you've handed something in! :)

Grade 12 World Issues and Philosophy

I don't think I'll have the patience to cover how to write an adequate bibliography in class, so if you could please visit

http://www.aresearchguide.com/11guide.html

to get a clear understanding of what goes into a good bibliography and what it's supposed to look like, you'll have a much easier time of citing and referencing your work. If you have any questions, feel free to find me in class, or leave questions on the blog!

World Issues People

THERE IS A TEST ON MONDAY.

YOU MUST STUDY.

CHAPTERS 10-13 PLUS THE LECTURE ON THE DRUG TRADE.

Quick hint for all my blog readers: The biggest question on the test regards the five stages of economic growth. Know it.

Mr. K.

P.S.

Because I think failure should ALWAYS be an option... Click here to procrastinate!

Sunday mornings are meant to distract you!

A little something to stop you from doing work, because I like distracting you all:

Chronotron

A game similar to Portal, if you've ever played it, though not quite as complicated. I got up to about level 15 or so until I realized I had work to do :P. Have fun!

Jeesh... Citations

Jeeesh... Citations

You'd think with all the internet whizz-bangery technology out there, it'd be SO much easier to post stuff online. Not, apparently, with my internet connection.

Anyway, my dear 12s who are reading this and need to figure out how to cite, check out

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Scroll to the bottom, the info you want is between sections 6-10

Those of you who are reading this and are in Philosophy and are confused about what you're supposed to do for the philosophy assignment and didn't get a chance to ask today in class:

Whatever you learn from your partner, whatever information or pictures you take, talk about how it relates to metaphysics: You may want to relate it to their knowledge of self, their belief in God or reality (Monism and dualism, anyone?!?), or relate it to things we've discussed in class - What do they believe to be true? How do they know it? Use the personal experiences, values and ideas that your partner has talked to you about to answer that.

Mr. K